Thursday
14 September 2017
P A R L I A M E N T A R Y D E B A T E S
(HANSARD)
HOUSE OF LORDS
WRITTEN STATEMENTS AND
WRITTEN ANSWERS
Written Statements ................................................ 1
Written Answers ..................................................... 5
Vol. 784
No. 24
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Ministers and others who make Statements or answer Questions are referred to only by name, not their ministerial or
other title. The current list of ministerial and other responsibilities is as follows.
Minister Responsibilities
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Earl Howe Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Baroness Anelay of St Johns Minister of State, Department for Exiting the European Union
Lord Ashton of Hyde Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Lord Bates Minister of State, Department for International Development and Treasury Spokesman
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local
Government, Northern Ireland Office
Baroness Buscombe Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions
Lord Callanan Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport
Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen Whip
Earl of Courtown Deputy Chief Whip
Lord Duncan of Springbank Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scotland Office
Lord Gardiner of Kimble Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs
Baroness Goldie Whip
Lord Keen of Elie Advocate-General for Scotland and Ministry of Justice Spokesperson
Lord Nash Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education
Lord O'Shaughnessy Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health, Whip
Lord Prior of Brampton Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy
Baroness Sugg Whip
Lord Taylor of Holbeach Chief Whip
Baroness Vere of Norbiton Whip
Baroness Williams of Trafford Minister of State, Home Office and Women and Equalities Spokesperson
Lord Young of Cookham Whip
Viscount Younger of Leckie Whip and Wales and Scotland Office Spokesperson
© Parliamentary Copyright House of Lords 2017
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Written Statements 14 September 2017 Page 1
Written Statements Thursday, 14 September 2017
Bermuda/ Kyrgyzstan
[HLWS135]
Lord Bates: My right honourable friend the Financial
Secretary to the Treasury (Mel Stride) has today made the
following Written Ministerial Statement.
An Exchange of Letters was signed with Bermuda in
London on 19 June 2017 and in Hamilton on 27 June
2017. The text replaces the original Exchange of Letters
signed in London on 4 December 2007.
A first-time Double Taxation Agreement with
Kyrgyzstan was signed on 13 June 2017. The texts of the
Exchange of Letters and the Double Taxation Agreement
have been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses and
made available on the HM Revenue and Customs’ pages
of the gov.uk website. The texts will be scheduled to draft
Orders in Council and laid before the House of Commons
in due course.
Business Rates Reliefs
[HLWS139]
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: My Hon Friend the
Minister for Local Government (Marcus Jones) has today
made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
At the spring Budget, my Rt Hon Friend the Chancellor
announced a £435 million package of support for
ratepayers over the next four years following the 2017
business rate revaluation. Overall, the revaluation was
revenue neutral with the majority of businesses seeing a
fall in their rates.
The package of support announced at the Budget
comprised three schemes: one that caps the annual bill
increase for any ratepayer losing Small Business Rate
Relief or Rural Rate Relief as a result of the revaluation to
£600; a second that provides a £300 million fund for local
authorities to distribute over four years to help hard-
pressed businesses facing higher rates bills; and a third
that gives a £1,000 discount to all pubs with a rateable
value of less than £100,000. On top of this, from April
2017, the Government permanently doubled the rate of
small business rate relief and increased the threshold for
eligibility, meaning that 600,000 small businesses now
pay no business rates at all.
All of these schemes are being delivered by local
government and I am pleased to confirm that some local
authorities have made significant progress towards
implementation. The London Borough of Westminster
has already rebilled eligible businesses under the pubs and
supporting small business schemes. The consultation on
Westminster’s discretionary scheme which will provide
over £11 million in the first year alone has now closed.
Formal approval to the scheme is due this week, with
applications invited from this Friday.
Furthermore, some authorities have awarded relief to
eligible ratepayers on all three schemes. For example,
Leeds City Council has provided over £1.5 million in
relief to over 3,600 ratepayers, including 50 per cent
discounts on bill increases to 3,300 small and medium
sized ratepayers under their discretionary scheme. Some
smaller authorities have also made excellent progress. For
example South Norfolk and Rutland councils have
implemented all three schemes. Rutland County Council
has provided almost £250,000 in relief to over 100
ratepayers to offset average rateable value increases of
13.5 per cent, and is awarding a discount of 26 per cent to
eligible businesses.
The Government has been consistently clear that it
expects local authorities to make rapid progress in helping
business by implementing these relief schemes. Overall,
however, despite various examples of good practice, the
pace of providing relief to ratepayers has not been
acceptable. I have written today to those authorities that
have not fully implemented all three schemes asking them
to rebill businesses that are set to benefit from relief as
soon as possible. From Tuesday 3 October, I will publish
a list of those authorities that have notified us that they
have rebilled for each of the three relief schemes.
Energy Policy
[HLWS136]
Lord Prior of Brampton: My right Honourable
Friend, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and
Industry Strategy (Greg Clark), has made the following
written ministerial statement:
As part of preparations for EU Exit, the UK is
establishing a domestic nuclear safeguards regime to
ensure that the UK continues to maintain its position as a
responsible nuclear state and that withdrawal from
Euratom will not result in the weakening of our future
safeguards standards and oversight in the UK.
This Government believes that it is vitally important
that the new domestic nuclear safeguards regime, to be
run by the Office for Nuclear Regulation, is as
comprehensive and robust as that currently provided by
Euratom. The government has therefore decided that it
will be establishing a domestic regime which will deliver
to existing Euratom standards and exceeds the standard
that the international community would require from the
UK as a member of the IAEA. International oversight will
be a key part of the future regime. The UK is seeking to
conclude new agreements with the IAEA that follow the
same principles as our current ones. This will ensure that
the IAEA retains its right to inspect all civil nuclear
facilities, and continue to receive all current safeguards
reporting, ensuring that international verification of our
safeguards activity continues to be robust.
Discussions with the European Union are on-going. We
will be exploring a number of options for smooth
transition from the current Euratom regime to a domestic
one. The unique and important nature of the civil nuclear
sector means that there is strong mutual interest in
Page 2 14 September 2017 Written Statements
ensuring that the UK and Euratom Community continue
to work closely together in the future. The UK’s ambition
is to maintain a close and effective relationship with the
Euratom Community and the rest of the world that
harnesses the UK’s and the Euratom Community’s
expertise and maximises shared interests. By maintaining
our current safeguards and standards we are providing the
best possible basis for continued close cooperation with
Euratom in the future.
Whatever the outcome of those discussions, the
Government is committed to a future regime that provides
at least the existing levels of assurance. The legislation to
provide for this was announced in the Queen’s speech and
will be brought forward in due course. This policy
statement provides important context both for
parliamentary consideration of that Bill, and for the
forthcoming talks with the European Union, which take
place in the last week of September.
Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Terms of Reference
[HLWS137]
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: My Rt Hon. Friend
the Prime Minister has made the following statement to
the House of Commons:
On 15 August 2017, I announced the formal setting up
of a public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire, to be
chaired by Sir Martin Moore-Bick, and its terms of
reference. This followed Sir Martin Moore-Bick’s letter to
me of 10 August, which advised me of the outcome of the
public consultation on the scope of the terms of reference,
and his recommendations. I was happy to accept Sir
Martin’s recommendations without amendment.
The Inquiry’s full terms of reference are:
(i) to examine the circumstances surrounding the fire at
Grenfell Tower on 14 June 2017, including
(a) the immediate cause or causes of the fire and the
means by which it spread to the whole of the building;
(b) the design and construction of the building and the
decisions relating to its modification, refurbishment and
management;
(c) the scope and adequacy of building regulations, fire
regulations and other legislation, guidance and industry
practice relating to the design, construction, equipping
and management of high-rise residential buildings;
(d) whether such regulations, legislation, guidance and
industry practice were complied with in the case of
Grenfell Tower and the fire safety measures adopted in
relation to it;
(e) the arrangements made by the local authority or
other responsible bodies for receiving and acting upon
information either obtained from local residents or
available from other sources (including information
derived from fires in other buildings) relating to the risk
of fire at Grenfell Tower, and the action taken in response
to such information;
(f) the fire prevention and fire safety measures in place
at Grenfell Tower on 14 June 2017;
(g) the response of the London Fire Brigade to the fire;
and
(h) the response of central and local government in the
days immediately following the fire; and
(ii) to report its findings to the Prime Minister as soon
as possible and to make recommendations.
Sir Martin has said that he is considering appointing
assessors to assist him in his task. He considers it likely
that he shall wish to appoint a diverse group of people
whose experience extends to the occupation and
management of social housing and the administration of
local government more generally, as well as to matters of
a more technical scientific nature. He also states that at a
later stage, he may also wish to appoint others to assist on
particular aspects of the investigation. He will make his
decisions public in due course. I have not appointed any
other members to the Inquiry Panel at this stage.
However, the Inquiries Act 2005 allows for appointments
to be made, with the consent of Sir Martin, during the
course of the Inquiry. This enables the composition of the
Inquiry Panel to be kept under review.
My exchange of correspondence with Sir Martin is in
the Library of the House.
Sir Martin is holding a preliminary hearing later today
where he will set out further detail on how he intends on
conducting the Inquiry.
In addition to the work of the Inquiry, my Rt. Hon.
Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local
Government has already announced an Independent
Review into Building Regulations and Fire Safety, led by
Dame Judith Hackitt. This will urgently assess the
effectiveness of current building and fire safety
regulations and related compliance and enforcement
issues, with a focus on multi occupancy high rise
residential buildings. The Review will co-operate fully
with the Inquiry. Sir Martin has set out his reasons for not
looking into the broader social housing issues but, as he
said in his letter, they should not be ignored and I am
determined that these important questions are not left
unanswered. As a first step, I have asked my Hon. Friend
the Housing Minister (Alok Sharma) to personally meet
and hear from as many social tenants as possible, as well
as other residents of social housing estates, both in the
immediate area around Grenfell Tower and across the
country. The Housing Minister has already met a number
of representative groups and will continue meet tenants
during October and November.
Hong Kong: Sino-British Joint Declaration
[HLWS132]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: My right Honourable
Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign and
Commonwealth Affairs (Boris Johnson), has made the
following written Ministerial statement:
Written Statements 14 September 2017 Page 3
The latest six-monthly report on the implementation of
the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong was
published today, and is attached. It covers the period from
1 January to 30 June 2017.
The report has been placed in the Library of the House.
A copy is also available on the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office website
(www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-
commonwealth-office).
I commend the report to the House.
The Statement includes the following attached material:
Hong Kong Six Month Report [The Six Monthly Report - 1
January - 30 June 2017.pdf]
The material can be viewed online at:
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-09-14/HLWS132/
Judicial Conduct Investigations Office
[HLWS138]
Lord Keen of Elie: My right honourable friend the
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (David
Lidington) has made the following Written Statement.
"With the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice, I will
today publish the eleventh annual report of the Judicial
Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO), formerly known as
the Office for Judicial Complaints.
The JCIO supports the Lord Chief Justice and the Lord
Chancellor in our joint statutory responsibility for judicial
discipline.
The judiciary comprises approximately 26,000
individuals serving across a range of jurisdictions. Over
the past year, the JCIO received 2,126 complaints against
judicial office holders and 526 written enquiries. Only 42
investigations resulted in disciplinary action. The JCIO
met all of its key performance indicators for processing
complaints.
I have placed copies of the report into the libraries of
both Houses, the Vote Office and the Printed Paper
Office. Copies are also available online at:
http://judicialcomplaints.judiciary.gov.uk/publications.ht
m."
National Assembly for Wales Elections 2016
[HLWS134]
Lord Duncan of Springbank: My Right Hon Friend
the Secretary of State for Wales (Alun Cairns) has made
the following Written Ministerial Statement:
The Government is today publishing its response to the
Electoral Commission’s report on the administration of
the 2016 elections to the National Assembly for Wales.
We are grateful to the Commission for preparing its
report and for its ongoing work to support the
administration of elections. We note that, following the
implementation of the Wales Act 2017, powers over
Assembly elections will be devolved to the National
Assembly for Wales and Welsh Ministers. It will
therefore be the responsibility of the Welsh Government
to implement the Commission’s recommendations in
respect of the next scheduled Assembly elections in 2021.
The Government will consider the Commission’s wider
recommendations in respect of polls that remain non-
devolved.
Copies of the Government’s response will be placed in
the library of both Houses.
Primary Assessment: England
[HLWS140]
Lord Nash: My right honourable friend the Secretary
of State for Education and Minister for Women and
Equalities (Justine Greening) has made the following
Written Ministerial Statement.
Primary education is fundamentally important to
ensuring that every child receives the best possible start in
life. As I set out in my statement to Parliament in March
this year, the primary assessment and accountability
system has a crucial role to play in ensuring that every
child, no matter what their background or where they go
to school, benefits from a high-quality primary education.
Last October, I set out my intention to establish a
settled, trusted primary assessment system. To help us
move towards this, we published earlier this year parallel
consultation documents on the long-term future of
primary assessment and on future assessment
arrangements for children working below the standard of
the national curriculum tests. These consultations
considered a number of the key issues facing the primary
assessment and accountability system, including how the
assessment system can help teachers to prepare pupils to
succeed at school, the starting point from which to
measure the progress that schools help children make in
primary school, and how end of key stage teacher
assessments could be improved. The consultations closed
in June and I am grateful to the many people and
organisations, and particularly the headteachers and
teachers, who took the time to provide thoughtful,
considered responses.
Having considered the views expressed, I am today
publishing the government’s responses to both
consultations, which set out how we will establish a stable
and effective primary assessment system. These
documents include commitments to:
•improve the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile by:
revising the Early Learning Goals to make them clearer
and align them more closely with teaching in key stage 1;
this will support us to meet our manifesto commitment to
strengthen the teaching of literacy and numeracy in the
early years. We will also strengthen the way assessment
information is passed on to Year 1 teachers; and review
the guidance and moderation process to reduce
administration burdens;
•improve school-level progress measures, and give
schools credit for the education that they provide to their
pupils in the reception year, year 1 and year 2, by
Page 4 14 September 2017 Written Statements
introducing a statutory assessment in reception to replace
the existing key stage 1 baseline;
•reduce workload and administration burdens on
teachers by making end-of-key stage 1 assessments non-
statutory in all-through primary schools, once the new
reception baseline has become established, with national
sampling to be introduced so that we can continue to
monitor standards;
•remove the statutory duty to report teacher assessment
in reading and mathematics at the end of key stage 2 from
the 2018 to 2019 academic year onwards which will form
part of our drive to bear down on unnecessary
administrative burdens, while keeping our rigorous key
stage 2 national curriculum tests in these subjects, which
will enable schools to uphold high standards while also
reducing workload and administrative burdens on
teachers;
•improve the way that writing is assessed, so that
teachers have more scope to use their professional
judgment when assessing pupil performance;
•aid children’s fluency in mathematics through the
introduction of a multiplication tables check, from the
summer of 2020, to be administered to pupils at the end of
year 4. This will help us to deliver on our commitment
that every child will know their times tables off by heart
by the time that they leave primary school; and
•improve the statutory assessment of pupils working
below the standard of national curriculum tests by
extending the interim pre-key stage standards to cover all
pupils engaged in subject specific learning, and by
piloting the Rochford Review’s recommended approach
to assessing pupils who are not yet engaged in subject
specific learning.
We will continue to work closely with headteachers,
teachers and all those with an interest in primary
education as we implement these changes, building on the
dialogue started by the consultation. It is by working
together that we will achieve our goal of a proportionate
assessment system that supports every child to meet their
full potential.
Copies of both of these government responses will be
placed in the libraries of both Houses of
Parliament.Written Statement missing, please insert
manually.
Trade Matters
[HLWS133]
Baroness Sugg: My Rt hon Friend The Secretary of
State for Department for International Trade and
President of the Board of Trade (Dr Liam Fox) has made
the following statement
EU-Canada Comprehensive and Economic Trade
Agreement (CETA) – Provisional Application
The Government wishes to inform the House that on 21
September 2017, the Comprehensive and Economic Trade
Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada will be
provisionally applied. The date of provisional application
was confirmed by the European Commission to EU
Member States in the last meeting of the Trade Policy
Committee.
The UK has always been a strong supporter of CETA
and remains a constructive partner in support of EU free
trade agreements.
Canada is one of the world’s most developed
economies and a significant trading partner for the UK.
The provisional application of CETA will benefit
consumers and provide opportunities for British
businesses with 98% of all Canadian tariff lines being
eliminated.
This will create major opportunities for UK businesses
across the whole economy and the Government is now
working with our Canadian partners to ensure that UK
businesses take full advantage of the provisional
application of this agreement.
Written Answers 14 September 2017 Page 5
Written Answers Thursday, 14 September 2017
Agriculture: Accidents
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many
(1) deaths, and (2) serious injuries, (a) on farms, and (b)
in the agricultural sector, have occurred in each year
since 1990 until the last year for which records are
available. [HL1384]
Baroness Buscombe: The available information is
given in the following tables.
Table 1: Number of fatal injuries to both workers (employees and the
self-employed) and members of the public (a) on farms and (b) in the
agricultural sector each year (where data is available) from 1990/91-2016/17
Source: Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)
Farms (a) Agriculture Sector (b)
Year Workers Members of the public
Workers Members of the
public
1990/91 - - 52 15
1991/92 - - 50 5
1992/93 - - 40 12
1993/94 - - 38 3
1994/95 - - 46 5
1995/96 - - 40 5
1996/97 - - 55 9
1997/98 - - 40 11
1998/99 - - 46 9
1999/00 - - 36 8
2000/01 - - 46 7
2001/02 37 2 39 2
2002/03 29 3 35 3
2003/04 19 6 44 6
2004/05 30 3 37 3
2005/06 32 8 33 8
2006/07 28 7 33 7
2007/08 41 1 46 2
2008/09 22 5 25 5
2009/10 35 5 39 5
2010/11 30 7 34 8
2011/12 27 6 35 6
2012/13 29 5 31 5
2013/14 26 4 27 4
Farms (a) Agriculture
Sector (b)
Year Workers Members of
the public
Workers Members
of the
public
2014/15 30 3 32 4
2015/16r 26 2 27 2
2016/17p 26 3 27 3
Table 2: Number of reported non-fatal injuries to employees (a) on farms and (b) in the agricultural sector each year (where data is
available) from 1990/91 to 2015/16
Source: Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences
Regulations (RIDDOR)
Year Farms (a) Agriculture sector (b)
1990/91 - 1,761
1991/92 - 1,827
1992/93 - 1,844
1993/94 - 1,760
1994/95 - 1,721
1995/96 - 1,687
1996/97 - 2,135
1997/98 - 2,005
1998/99 - 1,863
1999/00 - 2,067
2000/01 - 1,967
2001/02 1,852 2,066
2002/03 1,488 1,680
2003/04 985 1,175
2004/05 951 1,147
2005/06 892 1,058
2006/07 806 986
2007/08 908 1,117
2008/09 967 1,143
2009/10 996 1,183
2010/11 800 948
2011/12 881 1,110
2012/13 (c) 681 861
2013/14 (c) 688 861
2014/15r (c) 785 936
2015/16p (c) 727 883
Footnotes
Non-fatal injury data for 2016/17 will be published in November
2017
(a) Farms defined as Division 02, Crop and animal production,
hunting and related service activities, of the 2007 Standard Industrial
Classification.
Page 6 14 September 2017 Written Answers
(b) Agriculture defined as Section A, Agriculture, forestry and
fishing, of the 2007 Standard Industrial Classification.
(c) Due to a major change in the RIDDOR reporting requirements in
April 2012, injuries reported prior to 2012/13 are not directly
comparable with later years.
- Due to changes in the Standard Industrial Classification, data only
available for Farming from 2001/02
r- revised; p- provisional
Anticoagulants
Asked by Baroness Hodgson of Abinger
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there have
been any cases brought against the NHS during the past
five years that have referenced (1) anticoagulation, (2)
warfarin, or (3) non-vitamin K antagonist oral
anticoagulants; and if so, how many of those cases were
successful and what were the damages awarded.
[HL1268]
Lord O'Shaughnessy: NHS Resolution (NHSR)
provides indemnity cover for negligence claims against
the NHS in England on behalf of member organisations.
NHSR has provided the following information.
The number of clinical claims received from 2012/13 to
2016/17 and payments made on successful cases where
'anticoagulation', ‘Warfarin’ or 'Non-Vitamin K
antagonist' is mentioned in the incident details as at 31
August 2017 is shown in the attached table.
Where a claim has been settled by way of a Periodical
Payment Order the total value of the damages paid will
not be realised until the patient dies. The information in
the tables only includes payments to date on such cases.
The Answer includes the following attached material:
Clinical claims [HL1268 attachment.docx]
The material can be viewed online at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-
answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2017-09-05/HL1268
Buses: Standards
Asked by Lord Carlile of Berriew
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have
any proposals to review construction and use
regulations relating to public service vehicles, with
particular reference to the continuing use on such
vehicles of aged critical parts which are incapable of in-
service testing, such as tyres. [HL1238]
Lord Callanan: The ageing of vehicle parts is a
complex matter, and whilst the Government does not
currently have any proposals to amend construction and
use regulations, it will continue to review scientific
evidence to inform policy decisions.
Buses: Tyres
Asked by Lord Carlile of Berriew
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the
deaths of two children and a coach driver on 11
September 2012 as a result of the failure of a tyre which
was over 19 years old fitted to the coach and of the
resulting Traffic Commissioner's Public Inquiry and the
inquest into the deaths, whether they have any
proposals to introduce legislative requirements relating
to the use of tyres of more than 10 years old on public
service vehicles. [HL1237]
Lord Callanan: The Government has no proposals to
introduce legislation restricting the use of tyres on the
basis of their age.
Expert advice suggests that tyre ageing is a complex
issue where use and maintenance are significant factors
rather than simply chronological age.
However, applying the precautionary principle, in 2013
the Department distributed guidance to bus and coach
operators on how to establish the age of a tyre and
advised that tyres over 10-years of age should only be
fitted as part of a twin-wheel arrangement on a rear axle.
Enforcement staff of the Driver and Vehicle Standards
Agency continue to advise operators if a non-compliance
is identified.
The Department consulted with experts from the tyre
industry in both the UK and Europe and the free “Guide
to Tyre Management on Heavy Vehicles” was produced
with the support of the tyre industry and Senior Traffic
Commissioner Bell. In October 2016, copies of this guide
were sent to every registered bus and coach operator in
the country ensuring that, no matter the size of fleet and
irrespective of affiliation to a trade association, these
important messages reached as wide an audience as
possible.
The Department for Transport has gone to the market
twice to commission scientific research regarding the
effect of chronological age on tyre integrity. These
approaches have not been successful in establishing a
robust programme of research and the Department is
considering how to proceed. Scientific evidence will
inform any future policy decisions and the Department
will publish the outcome of the research once completed.
Business Interests
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment
they have made of the effectiveness of business
appointment rules for former ministers and senior civil
servants in ensuring public confidence in the work of
government. [HL1376]
Written Answers 14 September 2017 Page 7
Lord Young of Cookham: The Government is
considering a report from the Public Administration and
Constitutional Affairs Committee into the operation of the
Business Appointment Rules, and will respond in due
course.
Carillion
Asked by Lord Stunell
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment
they have made of the current financial situation of
Carillion; and what consideration they have given to
mandating the use of bank accounts in England for
public infrastructure projects in order to protect smaller
sub-contractors on such projects. [HL1334]
Lord Young of Cookham: The Cabinet Office tracks
the financial status of all of HMG’s Strategic Suppliers
and manages risks accordingly. Carillion plc is a Strategic
Supplier to Her Majesty’s Government, publicly listed
company and is required to comply with all rules and
regulations of the London Stock Exchange. We are
expecting the company to be publishing its half-year
results on the 29th September.
The Government Construction Strategy, as set out by
the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), does not
mandate the use of Project Bank Accounts (PBAs) in
England for public infrastructure projects. However, the
policy states they are recognised as an effective
mechanism for facilitating fair payment to the
construction supply chain and that departments have
committed to use them unless there are compelling
reasons not to do so. The use of PBA’s can be found in
the Government Construction Strategy, which can be
found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government
-construction-strategy-2016-2020.
The Answer includes the following attached material:
Government Construction Strategy
[Government_Construction_Strategy_2016-20 (1).pdf]
The material can be viewed online at:
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-
answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2017-09-05/HL1334
Asked by Lord Stunell
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions
they have had with representatives of (1) HS2 Ltd, and
(2) Carillion, about the use of discrete project bank
accounts in relation to Carillion's HS2 contract, with
regards to the protection of SME sub-contractors from
late payments. [HL1335]
Lord Callanan: I can advise that the Department for
Transport has not had any discussions with either HS2
Ltd or Carillion regarding the use of discrete project bank
accounts in relation to HS2 contracts.
Charities: Freedom of Information
Asked by Lord Patten
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration
they have given to making it possible for citizens to
make freedom of information requests to UK-based
registered charities. [HL1315]
Lord Young of Cookham: A small number of public
authorities subject to the FOI Act are also registered as
charities. Other charitable bodies do not meet the
conditions for inclusion within Schedule 1 of the FOI Act.
However, the Government keeps the scope of the Act
under constant review.
Children: Poverty
Asked by Lord Ouseley
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they
plan to take to improve the quality of life and future
prospects for the four million children living in relative
poverty in the UK. [HL1309]
Baroness Buscombe: This Government is committed
to action that will make a lasting difference to the lives of
disadvantaged children. This requires an approach that
goes beyond the safety net of the welfare state to tackle
the root causes of child poverty and disadvantage. Work
is key to alleviating poverty; children in workless
households are five times more likely to be in poverty
than those in households where all adults were working.
This Government’s policies to support and encourage
work mean that there are 608,000 fewer children in
workless households compared with 2010. Improving
Lives: Helping Workless Families, published on 4 April,
set out a framework for a continued focus on improving
children’s outcomes, now and in the future.
Communism
Asked by Lord Blencathra
Her Majesty's Government whether they have any
plans to commemorate in October the many
millions who have died, since the October Revolution
1917, as a result of the actions of the governments of
the USSR, the National Socialist government of
Germany, the Communist Party of China, the
Democratic Republic of Kampuchea, the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea, the Democratic Republic of
Vietnam, the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia,
the People's Republic of Bulgaria, the German
Democratic Republic, the Republic of Cuba, the
People's Republic of Angola, the People's Socialist
Republic of Albania, the Lao People's Democratic
Republic, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and
other countries which established governments founded
on Marxist-socialist principles. [HL791]
Page 8 14 September 2017 Written Answers
Lord Young of Cookham: There are currently no such
plans.
Cycling
Asked by Lord Birt
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they plan to
encourage compliance with laws governing cycling.
[HL1218]
Lord Callanan: As with all road users, cyclists need to
adhere to the rules set out in the Highway Code
regulations 59 to 82. Anyone not doing so is at risk of a
penalty, fine or imprisonment. Enforcement is a matter for
individual police forces. The Government also promotes
road safety, including encouraging safe cycling, through
its Think! campaigns. The Government continues to keep
road safety and road traffic offences under review to
ensure that the current legislative framework is adequate.
Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls
Asked by Baroness Randerson
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the total
amount of fines for failure to pay the Dartford Crossing
Charge that have been written off in the last 12 months;
and what are the reasons those fines could not be
collected. [HL1402]
Lord Callanan: Highways England is currently
finalising the 2016/17 Dartford River Crossing accounts
which will be audited by the National Audit Office in
October 2017. As a result, we are unable at present to
provide figures relating to fines for the last 12 months.
Department for Communities and Local
Government: Written Questions
Asked by Lord Jopling
To ask the Leader of the House what explanation, if
any, she has received from the Secretary of State for
Communities and Local Government as to why six
questions for written answer tabled on or before 19 July
had not been answered by 6 September; and when she
expects those questions to be answered. [HL1446]
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: As Leader of the
House I take very seriously the responsibility incumbent
on all Ministers to provide full, timely and
comprehensible answers to Questions for Written Answer
(QWAs).
In this instance I am informed by the Department that
delays to five of these late responses were as a result of
administrative errors. I have been advised that these
issues have now been identified and resolved. I have been
reassured that the Secretary of State takes this seriously
and that he has made clear to officials that it is essential it
does not happen again. The members concerned were
contacted by the Department to apologise for the delay
and these questions have now been answered.
With regard to question number HL1066 from Lord
Pearson of Rannoch, this remained unanswered by 6
September due to an error with IT systems maintained by
the House which meant that it was not allocated to the
correct department. The technical issue which was
causing problems with transfers and amendments has now
been resolved and the question has now been answered.
My office will continue to work with all departments to
ensure prompt and satisfactory answers to QWAs.
Devolution: Yorkshire and the Humber
Asked by Lord Scriven
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment
they have made of the merits of (1) establishing a
Yorkshire-wide devolution settlement, and (2) members
of the Sheffield City Region devolution deal joining
that settlement at a later date. [HL1485]
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Government is
committed to implementing and has legislated for the
Sheffield City Region devolution deal. The Government
has not received any proposal for a Yorkshire wide deal
and any assessment of the merits of such a deal would
have to take account of this pre-existing legislative
commitment. The Sheffield City Region having
implemented its devolution deal is not precluded in future
from joining a wider Yorkshire devolution deal, were this
to be agreed with Government and all the authorities
involved.
Diesel Vehicles: Urban Areas
Asked by Lord Campbell-Savours
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have
decided which restrictions are to be introduced on
access to major conurbations for Euro 6 emission
standard compliant diesel engine powered vehicles.
[HL1236]
Lord Callanan: In May 2017, the Government
published a Clean Air Zone Framework for England
setting out the expected approach to be taken by local
authorities when implementing and operating Clean Air
Zones. This does not include restrictions on Euro 6
vehicles. Local authorities are currently developing local
plans to determine which measures are implemented and
what their extent will be.
Doctors: Refugees
Asked by Baroness Finlay of Llandaff
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many refugee
doctors have been able to become registered by the
General Medical Council in the last five years; and in
which medical specialties those doctors are practicing.
[HL1257]
Lord O'Shaughnessy: The information requested is
not held by the Department.
Written Answers 14 September 2017 Page 9
The General Medical Council (GMC) is the
independent regulator of doctors in the United Kingdom.
It has advised that from 1 September 2012 to 31 August
2017, the GMC has registered 117 refugee doctors. Of
these doctors, currently 105 are registered, and 104 with a
licence to practise.
The GMC has informed us that the numbers of
practising refugee doctors split per medical specialities
are very small and could lead to identification of
individuals, and we are therefore not providing this
information.
Asked by Baroness Finlay of Llandaff
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many refugee
doctors are currently enrolled in active refugee doctor
programmes in the UK, specifically (1) Reache North
West (Salford), (2) Building Bridges (London), (3)
WARD (Cardiff), (4) The Bridges Programme
(Glasgow) and (5) North-East England (Stockton-on-
Tees); and how much annual funding each of those
programmes receive from Health Education England.
[HL1258]
Lord O'Shaughnessy: Health Education England
(HEE) does not provide funding for programmes in
Scotland and Wales. Funding for the requested
programmes in England is shown in the following table.
Refugee doctor programme
HEE funding (2017/18)
Doctors currently enrolled in
programme
Reache North West (Salford)
£363,357 54
Building Bridges
(London)
£290,510 -
North-East England
(Stockton-on-Tees)
£63,180 12
Source: HEE
Notes: Data for Cardiff and Glasgow is not available as
these programmes do not fall within HEE’s remit.
Breakdown for the numbers of doctors currently enrolled
on the Building Bridges programme (London) is not
available.
Driving: Licensing
Asked by Lord Storey
To ask Her Majesty's Government what support is
available for adults applying for a driving licence who
do not have access to a computer or are not IT literate.
[HL1333]
Lord Callanan: All applications for a driving licence
can be made by completing a paper form. Application
forms are available from the Post Office or direct from the
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. A limited number
of Post Office branches also offer an electronic service to
capture and transmit data for some driving licence
applications.
Customers who have previously been issued with a
photocard driving licence can also apply for a new or
replacement driving licence by telephoning the DVLA’s
Contact Centre.
Elections: Costs
Asked by Lord Rennard
Her Majesty's Government what are the estimated
costs of holding (1) the 2016 EU referendum, and (2)
the 2017 general election. [HL1052]
Lord Young of Cookham: In reference to the costs of
the 2016 EU Referendum, please see the Written
Statement, presented to Parliament on 23rd March 2016,
Column 64WS, by the then Parliamentary Secretary to the
Cabinet Office, John Penrose.
The Written Statement presented to Parliament on 13th
September 2017, Column 24WS, gave the cost of the
2017 General Election.
Electric Vehicles: Batteries
Asked by Lord Mendelsohn
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their
estimate of the annual number of used electric vehicle
batteries that will require disposal or recycling per year
once the sale of petrol and diesel cars and vans has
ended. [HL1305]
Lord Callanan: We do not hold estimates of this. We
recognise that once batteries used in electric vehicles
(EVs) no longer meet the needs of the motorist they will
still have significant capacity remaining for alternative
uses. The second-use of batteries is still in its research
phase but we expect second use applications to develop
significantly as EV numbers increase. The benefits of
secondary uses for these batteries could include better EV
residual values; and provide benefits to consumers and
utilities including grid balancing and energy storage for
intermittent renewable generation.
Asked by Lord Mendelsohn
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many lithium-
ion car battery recycling facilities are currently in
operation; and how many such facilities they expect to
be in operation once the sale of petrol and diesel cars
has ended. [HL1306]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: There are no lithium-ion
recycling facilities in the UK. All batteries collected are
subject to sorting and initial processing but are exported
for final reprocessing.
With the increased number of larger lithium-ion
batteries entering the waste stream in future, we expect
there to be interest from industry in establishing
reprocessing facilities.
However, this would be a decision for the industry to
make, based on the economic viability and the expected
Page 10 14 September 2017 Written Answers
numbers of these batteries being collected for
reprocessing.
Family Planning
Asked by Baroness Tonge
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether GPs
receive in-service training on family planning service
provisions; and if so, how often. [HL1344]
Lord O'Shaughnessy: General practitioners (GPs) are
responsible for maintaining their continuing professional
development (CPD), ensuring that they can provide high
quality care to all patients. CPD is one of the sources of
information required for appraisal and revalidation. GPs
can draw on a variety of accredited training, for example
from the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare,
on safe and effective sexual and reproductive healthcare
in community, primary and secondary care settings.
Female Genital Mutilation
Asked by Baroness Tonge
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have
considered the introduction of annual medical
examinations of young girls in order to detect and
prevent female genital mutilation; and what assessment
they have made of the effectiveness of such
examinations in other countries such as France.
[HL1341]
Lord O'Shaughnessy: The Government has no current
plans to introduce annual medical examinations to
identify female genital mutilation (FGM); we believe that
prevention and support are where efforts are best focused.
Medical examinations may take place in individual child
protection cases, however.
Medical examinations in France and elsewhere take
place within a different social and legal framework than
in England and so are not comparable.
As part of the Department’s £4 million FGM
Prevention Programme, which is in partnership with NHS
England, we have introduced a range of training and
guidance for health professionals. This includes:
- Specialist FGM safeguarding guidance to help health
professionals protect against FGM;
- Specialist guidance to help health professionals
commission appropriate FGM services;
- Awareness-raising roadshows and outreach work
across the country – this has directly reached over 3,500
professionals;
- Educational films about FGM and updated content on
the NHS Choices website;
- Comprehensive e-learning on FGM, free of charge to
all National Health Service staff (this was developed by
Health Education England, with more than 4,000 staff
having used this to date); and:
- Supported a number of projects with health partners
including the Royal Colleges. These have delivered a
range of practical measures to improve clinical skills,
awareness and preparedness to treat and safeguard women
and girls with FGM.
Food Poverty
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the
Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 3
August (HL1163), and on the basis of the data sources
in that response, what is their assessment of the levels
of household food insecurity in the UK. [HL1284]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The UK has a high degree
of food security, as shown by the 2010 UK Food Security
Assessment. It is a comprehensive piece of work,
covering all aspects of food security, including household
food security. Defra has just commenced a review of the
assessment.
The Office for National Statistics Living Costs and
Food Survey includes questions on household spend on
food, including that of the lowest 20 per cent income
households, which has remained constant between 16 per
cent and 16.5 per cent for many years.
The Food Insecurity Experience Scale, developed by
the ‘Voices of the Hungry’ project of the UN Food and
Agriculture Organisation, is used to collect data on
household food security in up to 150 countries worldwide,
including the UK. The latest survey results will be
available shortly.
Food: Imports
Asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the context of
any international trade agreement entered into once the
UK has left the EU, how they plan to ensure that the
current environmental, animal welfare and food safety
standards of British food are protected against
competition from imported food that is produced to
lower standards. [HL1292]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: When we leave the
European Union, we will maintain our current
environmental, animal welfare, and food safety standards.
We will keep our existing UK legislation, and the EU
Withdrawal Bill will convert EU law into UK law as it
applies at the moment of exit.
These standards will continue to apply to both our own
great British produce and that imported from our trading
partners overseas. It is vital that we explore new trading
opportunities, but these should not mean a dilution of the
standards for which British food is world renowned. Any
future trade agreements must work for consumers,
farmers, and businesses in the UK.
Written Answers 14 September 2017 Page 11
Government Departments: Disclosure of
Information
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they
are taking to ensure that government departments meet
their obligations to publish transparency data in a
timely fashion. [HL1377]
Lord Young of Cookham: The UK Government is
among the most transparent in the world and each
Department is responsible for publishing a range of data
on its activities. Ministers in the Cabinet Office will be
working with departments over the coming months to
improve the publication process to ensure we continue to
meet our obligations in this important area.
Groceries Code Adjudicator
Asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to
report on the outcome of the call for evidence into
whether there should be an extension of the remit of the
Groceries Code Adjudicator. [HL1293]
Lord Prior of Brampton: We are planning to report
the outcome of the Call for Evidence on extending the
Groceries Code Adjudicator’s remit in the autumn.
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Asked by Lord Truscott
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the HS2
project is within budget and on schedule; and what
steps they are taking to ensure that it is delivered within
budget and on schedule. [HL1352]
Lord Callanan: HS2 is on time and on budget.
The Development Agreement between the Secretary of
State for Transport and HS2 Ltd sets out a series of
obligations and commitments on cost control and
schedule. This agreement was originally signed by both
parties in 2014 and has recently been extensively
reviewed and republished in July 2017.
Asked by Lord Truscott
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are
their estimates of (1) the final cost of HS2, and (2) its
completion date. [HL1353]
Lord Callanan: The Spending Review 2015 confirmed
a budget for the delivery of HS2 of £55.7 billion at 2015
prices. We are committed to delivering HS2 on time and
on budget.
HS2 will run between London and Birmingham from
2026, extend to Crewe by 2027 and then link to
Manchester and Leeds from 2033.
Horse Racing
Asked by Lord Trefgarne
To ask Her Majesty's Government what
arrangements, if any, they propose to put in place to
enable the free movement of racehorses following
Brexit. [HL1345]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Government is
negotiating our exit from the European Union. Defra is
working with the Department for Exiting the European
Union to look at future arrangements including for the
health conditions that will be applicable to movements of
animals between the UK and the European Union.
Mental Health Services: Staff
Asked by Lord Bradley
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the national
guidelines on safe, sustainable and productive staffing
in mental health will be published. [HL1225]
Lord O'Shaughnessy: NHS England is working with
the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health and
key stakeholders, including experts by experience and
carers, to develop national guidelines on effective, safe,
compassionate and sustainable staffing. The expected date
for publication will be in the summer of 2018.
NHS: Data Protection
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they
intend to implement all the recommendations contained
in the report Review of data releases made by the NHS
Information Centre led by Sir Nick Partridge in 2014;
and if so, how many recommendations remain to be
implemented. [HL1271]
Lord O'Shaughnessy: NHS Digital has advised that it
is working towards implementing all the
recommendations in Sir Nick Partridge’s Review of Data
Releases by the NHS Information Centre. The majority
have already been implemented in full and NHS Digital
expects the remaining aspects of the one outstanding
recommendation to have been implemented by the end of
the year.
Pacific Alliance: Conferences
Asked by Baroness Coussins
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the UK
was represented at the meeting of the Pacific Alliance
in Cali in June; and if so, by whom. [HL1243]
Baroness Sugg: The Deputy Director of Americas
Directorate in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
represented the UK at the 12th Summit of the Pacific
Alliance in Cali, Colombia in June.
Page 12 14 September 2017 Written Answers
Palace of Westminster: Repairs and
Maintenance
Asked by Baroness Stowell of Beeston
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment
they have made of the main recommendations put
forward by the Joint Committee on the Palace of
Westminster in its report of September 2016; and when
they intend to bring forward a motion for both Houses
to debate and decide how the restoration and renewal
works should progress. [HL1424]
Lord Young of Cookham: The Government is grateful
for the valuable work conducted by the Joint Committee
on the Palace of Westminster and has considered the
recommendations in its report carefully. It intends to
bring forward a motion in both Houses to debate this
important matter in the Autumn.
Parliamentary and Health Service
Ombudsman
Asked by Baroness Finlay of Llandaff
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many
complaints were submitted about the Parliamentary and
Health Service Ombudsman in 2016; and what were the
main themes of those complaints. [HL1259]
Lord O'Shaughnessy: The Department does not
collect these data. The Parliamentary and Health Service
Ombudsman (PHSO) is independent of Government,
being accountable to Parliament through the Public
Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee.
This would be a matter for the PHSO to address.
Pedicabs: Greater London
Asked by Baroness Stowell of Beeston
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they
intend to take to regulate rickshaws and pedicabs in
London. [HL1408]
Lord Callanan: The Government understands the
concerns that have been raised about pedicabs and the
lack of regulatory regime to control their operations. We
are considering the options for regulation and working to
identify a suitable legislative slot if required.
Physician Associates: Regulation
Asked by Baroness Finlay of Llandaff
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light
of remarks made by the Secretary of State for Health to
the NHS Providers annual conference on 30 November
2016, when they will launch a consultation on the
regulation of Physician Associate roles. [HL1260]
Lord O'Shaughnessy: The Government supports the
development of a modern health and care workforce as
part of the continuing drive to provide safe, accessible and
high quality care for patients and service users.
The Department has developed proposals relating to the
regulation of physician associates and remains committed
to consulting on these in 2017.
Pigmeat: Hepatitis
Asked by Lord Blencathra
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the EU Food
Safety Agency first became aware that Hepatitis E was
present in pig meat from the Netherlands and Germany;
and when that information was first communicated to
authorities in England. [HL1222]
Lord O'Shaughnessy: The Food Standards Agency
(FSA) does not hold information on when the European
Food Safety Authority (EFSA) first became aware of
hepatitis E in pig meat from the Netherlands and
Germany. This is outside of the FSA remit as EFSA does
not fall within the United Kingdom’s jurisdiction.
As far as we are aware, the EFSA has not informed the
FSA of any concerns regarding the presence of hepatitis E
virus in pig meat from Germany or the Netherlands. The
UK did, however, present a report on viruses in the food
chain at the 55 th EFSA Advisory Forum meeting in
March 2015, which included a review of hepatitis E.
European member states took this opportunity to share
information and experience on hepatitis E in pork
products, identifying possible opportunities for further
collaboration to support risk assessments in this area.
Public Sector Debt
Asked by Lord Vinson
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the annual
cost of servicing the UK's external debt (1) in total, and
(2) expressed as an amount per UK taxpayer. [HL1417]
Lord Young of Cookham: The information requested
falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics
Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The Answer includes the following attached material:
UKSA response to HL1417 [HL1417 LY .pdf]
The material can be viewed online at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-
answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2017-09-06/HL1417
Road Works
Asked by Lord Trefgarne
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are
satisfied with the regulatory arrangements relating to
the conduct of roadworks on public highways
undertaken by public utility companies. [HL1346]
Lord Callanan: The Government wants to deliver
better journeys for drivers. Utility works are essential, but
Written Answers 14 September 2017 Page 13
they should not be in place any longer than is absolutely
necessary.
Whilst we are satisfied that the regulatory arrangements
are working well, we continue to keep them under review
to modernise and update legislation and statutory
guidance where necessary, and where it will lead to
improvements in the way that these works are managed.
Recent examples include a consultation on lane rental
powers published on 2nd September. Lane rental allows
local authorities to charge utility companies for works on
the busiest roads at the busiest times. We will shortly be
publishing updated statutory guidance relating to
inspections. In 2015, we updated regulations and
guidance on permit schemes that are now in place in
almost 60% of local authority areas and which are
resulting in more effective management of street works
and reductions in their duration. We continue to work
with stakeholders to encourage more local authorities take
up and adopt permit schemes.
Sheffield-Rotherham Tram-train Pilot
Scheme
Asked by Lord Bradshaw
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much the
change from DC to AC electrification or the new
specification of the Sheffield Tram Train cost, or will
cost, in terms of (1) the associated infrastructure, and
(2) the trains. [HL1226]
Lord Callanan: The new tram train vehicles for use
between Rotherham and Sheffield have been specified
with the ability to operate on either 750v DC or 25kv AC
power and therefore these units are already capable of
operation on both systems at no additional cost.
Network Rail has designed the overhead electrification
equipment on their network to operate initially at 750v
DC, however passive provision (such as installing
‘mainline’ standard masts) has been made to facilitate
conversion to 25kv AC should this be required in future.
The costs however of such conversion are not known at
this time but the work undertaken by this project will
reduce the overall cost of any such future scheme in the
area.
Small Businesses: Regulation
Asked by Lord Mawson
Her Majesty's Government who within the Cabinet
Office has responsibility for monitoring (1) the
overall impact of Government legislation, and (2) the
burden of regulation, on small and medium-sized
enterprises. [HL810]
Lord Young of Cookham: This is no longer the
responsibility of the Cabinet Office and is now the
responsibility of the Depart for Business, Energy and
Industrial Strategy.
Social Security Benefits
Asked by Lord Ouseley
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they
have, if any, to review the operation of the benefits
system, in particular its impact on vulnerable people.
[HL1310]
Baroness Buscombe: The government keeps the
delivery of benefits under constant review, which includes
consideration of how benefits are delivered to vulnerable
groups.
South Africa: Bell Pottinger Group
Asked by Lord Hain
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any UK
High Commission staff stationed in South Africa (1)
assisted, (2) advised, or (3) were in contact at any time
with, Bell Pottinger over its activities in South Africa
on behalf of President Zuma's business supporters.
[HL1265]
Asked by Lord Hain
To ask Her Majesty's Government what meetings,
telephone calls, or formal or informal contacts UK High
Commission staff stationed in South Africa had with
Bell Pottinger inside or outside that country in 2016 and
in 2017 to date. [HL1266]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK High
Commission in South Africa were not involved in this
work, nor were they consulted in advance. There was no
contact between UK High Commission staff in South
Africa and Bell Pottinger during the period 2016 to 2017
to date.
Strokes
Asked by Baroness Hodgson of Abinger
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they
have to ensure progress in the treatment of stroke
throughout the country once the National Stroke
Strategy comes to an end in December. [HL1269]
Lord O'Shaughnessy: Although the National Stroke
Strategy comes to an end in December, NHS England
continues to lead an effective programme of work on
prevention and treatment.
NHS England is improving acute treatment through the
centralisation of care in centres that can provide the
highest level of care at all times of the day and week.
Stroke is one of the five conditions chosen to deliver the
urgent and emergency care standards by this autumn.
NHS England has established a cardiovascular disease
(CVD) collaborative to bring together relevant
stakeholders in the field of CVD and provide a forum
where relevant work being undertaken in this area and
potential new initiatives can be discussed and
responsibilities for action determined.
Page 14 14 September 2017 Written Answers
CVD prevention is a key theme in NHS England’s Five
Year Forward View and its NHS RightCare programme.
NHS England have also recently announced that it will
be commissioning the new treatment of thrombectomy
(extracting the blood clot causing the blockage to blood
flow through a catheter inserted into the artery). This will
initially be provided in the neuroscience centres, but in
due course additional centres may need to provide this
treatment to ensure complete population coverage.
Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party
Campaigning and Trade Union
Administration Act 2014
Asked by Lord Hain
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they
intend to take, if any, to review the Transparency of
Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union
Administration Act 2014 following Bell Pottinger's
expulsion from the Public Relations and
Communications Association. [HL1472]
Lord Young of Cookham: The Government is of the
view that the Transparency of Lobbying Act 2014 has
increased transparency around the work of consultant
lobbyists. This legislation complements the existing
framework of industry-led regulation such as subscription
to industry codes of conduct, alongside the publication of
ministerial diaries. Therefore, the Government has no
plans to review the current legislation to expand the remit
of the Registrar or her office.
Asked by Lord Hain
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will
review the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party
Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act
2014, in the light of the Registrar's inability to remove
organisations such as Bell Pottinger from the Register
of Consultant Lobbyists. [HL1473]
Lord Young of Cookham: The Transparency of
Lobbying Act 2014 does not confer powers on the
Registrar to remove consultant lobbyists from the
Register unless they cease to be consultant lobbyists. The
Government position continues to be that the current
regulations are designed to complement rather than
replace existing industry-led self-regulation.
Turkey: Press Freedom
Asked by Lord Patten
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their
assessment of the effect of recent arrests of journalists
in Turkey on the UK's relationship with that country;
and whether they have made any representations to the
government of Turkey on this matter. [HL1314]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We regularly raise
concerns with the Turkish authorities about arrests,
including of journalists, under the State of Emergency
following last year's attempted coup. British diplomats
engage in frequent dialogue with civil society and
regularly attend trials, including those of journalists,
together with other EU Member States and like-minded
missions. We will continue to urge the Turkish authorities
to uphold international standards with regard to the rule of
law, including the presumption of innocence, and to
protect fundamental rights including freedom of
expression and assembly.
Index to Statements and Answers
Written Statements ................................................. 1
Bermuda/ Kyrgyzstan ........................................... 1
Business Rates Reliefs .......................................... 1
Energy Policy ....................................................... 1
Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Terms of Reference ....... 2
Hong Kong: Sino-British Joint Declaration ......... 2
Judicial Conduct Investigations Office................. 3
National Assembly for Wales Elections 2016 ...... 3
Primary Assessment: England .............................. 3
Trade Matters ....................................................... 4
Written Answers ..................................................... 5
Agriculture: Accidents.......................................... 5
Anticoagulants ...................................................... 6
Buses: Standards ................................................... 6
Buses: Tyres ......................................................... 6
Business Interests ................................................. 6
Carillion ................................................................ 7
Charities: Freedom of Information ....................... 7
Children: Poverty.................................................. 7
Communism ......................................................... 7
Cycling ................................................................. 8
Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls ....................... 8
Department for Communities and Local
Government: Written Questions ........................... 8
Devolution: Yorkshire and the Humber ............... 8
Diesel Vehicles: Urban Areas .............................. 8
Doctors: Refugees ................................................ 8
Driving: Licensing ................................................ 9
Elections: Costs .................................................... 9
Electric Vehicles: Batteries .................................. 9
Family Planning ................................................. 10
Female Genital Mutilation .................................. 10
Food Poverty ...................................................... 10
Food: Imports ..................................................... 10
Government Departments: Disclosure of
Information ......................................................... 11
Groceries Code Adjudicator .............................. 11
High Speed 2 Railway Line ............................... 11
Horse Racing ..................................................... 11
Mental Health Services: Staff ............................ 11
NHS: Data Protection ........................................ 11
Pacific Alliance: Conferences ............................ 11
Palace of Westminster: Repairs and Maintenance
........................................................................... 12
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman 12
Pedicabs: Greater London.................................. 12
Physician Associates: Regulation ...................... 12
Pigmeat: Hepatitis .............................................. 12
Public Sector Debt ............................................. 12
Road Works ....................................................... 12
Sheffield-Rotherham Tram-train Pilot Scheme . 13
Small Businesses: Regulation ............................ 13
Social Security Benefits ..................................... 13
South Africa: Bell Pottinger Group ................... 13
Strokes ............................................................... 13
Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party
Campaigning and Trade Union Administration
Act 2014 ............................................................ 14
Turkey: Press Freedom ...................................... 14